Notre Dame football: Top 5 moments from 2020 season

Ian Book Outduels Phil Jurkovec

At the end of last season, Notre Dame backup quarterback Phil Jurkovec decided to transfer out for more playing time. He landed at Boston College, where tensions between Jurkovec and the program grew, as rumors swirled that Brian Kelly was blocking his waiver to play immediately.

Some Irish fans were upset with how all of this happened, feeling that Jurkovec deserved more of a shot while at Notre Dame.

All of that created intrigue heading into a showdown between the two quarterbacks in Chestnut Hill. If Jurkovec outplayed Book, it would have been a referendum on Kelly’s decision to stick with Book ahead of Jurkovec. It was clear from the beginning to the end of the game that, while Jurkovec is a fine quarterback, Book significantly better as a fifth-year senior.

That isn’t to say that Jurkovec doesn’t have a higher ceiling than Book, but he wasn’t the right choice yet, and with the excitement around Tyler Buchner, Kelly made the right choice.

Jurkovec had a first-quarter touchdown throw, where he lobbed it behind his receiver, but was still able to complete the pass on the run. From there, Book took over. He hit Avery Davis for a nearly 50-yard catch while under pressure and later ducked out of a sack he fell to his left to hit Ben Skowronek for a touchdown.

It was one of the best games of the season for Book, who went 20-of-27 for 283 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 85 yards rushing, which led Notre Dame, while also adding a touchdown run.